Opera Holland Park

W11 Opera and Opera Holland Park

In the summer of 2001, W11 Opera was asked to provide a chorus of street urchins for Cadogan Opera Holland Park’s production of Carmen by Bizet. The young cast threw themselves into the task and such was their achievement that Rodney Milnes, the Times opera critic, enthusing about the production, remarked that “There was an irresistibly bumptious children's chorus in the first and last acts that practically stole the show”.

The success of this initial involvement with Opera Holland Park has led to a continuing and very rewarding association with the Company over the last seven years. During this time cast members of W11 have been involved in performances of Carmen, Pagliacci, Werther, Tosca, L’Arlesiana, La Bohème, Norma, Macbeth and Cosi Fan Tutte. In 2007 they will perform in Nabucco and La traviata.

The children taking part in these operas have to work very hard to achieve their success. In addition to normal school life, they must attend music rehearsals, learn to sing in a foreign language and remember instructions from the Artistic Director during rehearsals with the adult professionals in the cast. It is a serous commitment, but the opportunity to be part of a professional production, to learn the music of some of the standard repertoire and to take part alongside some of the country’s best singers is quite inspirational. These children are the next generation of opera lovers and the seed is well and truly sown through these experiences.

2006 was the tenth anniversary of Opera Holland Park. The huge success story of this council run Company is well known. “Opera Holland Park is knocking spots off everyone else” said The Times critic and he wasn't alone in this thought. W11 Opera is proud to have been associated with them over the last seven years and looks forward to providing members of their cast for productions at Holland Park in the future.

What the W11 cast and family think

Doing the performance was really fun because it was a professional opera and the sets were amazing. First of all I thought this is going to be so hard, but once I met the people, it was so fun to do.

Maya Daniels

It's what happens backstage that really makes the experience what it is. There is everything from football to a good gossip and that's just the adult chorus!... By the end of it, in fact even by the second performance, the men have joined in the football matches and the ladies have made us chocolate brownies!

Gabriel Harris

It was an incredible experience. I’d recommend anyone to do it if they had the opportunity.

Leo Faulks

I can remember singing in Italian with all the famous actors and actresses... Although we were not on most of the time, we were still very excited. Arid when the moment came, it was almost too good to be true.

Lydia Warner

At the first rehearsal I remember jumping to the sound of the loud strong singing of the chorus!... It was easy playing the part of scruffy children running around since it was sort of like my own character!

Amelie Johansson

This year I was invited to join the stage management team at Opera Holland Park. During rehearsals for La Boheme a panic arose when it was discovered that director Jamie Hayes’ request for a dead body had not been catered for. Being multi-talented I found myself at the beginning of Act Two lying on stage under a blanket, wearing size 10 army boots and trying not to laugh while being teased by the 'policemen'. My acting abilities obviously shone through however when siblings of a cast member; debating whether the 'body' was real, concluded it was not as ‘it wasn't breathing’!

Alanna Harris

It has been such a privilege for Leo to take part in the Holland Park Opera. The experience is one he won't forget and which he can build on when auditioning for parts at his new school. It gives him tremendous confidence and boosts his self-esteem no end but more importantly has taught him what hard work it is to be a professional actor/singer.

Catherine Faulks (mother to Leo as Fleance in Verdi's Macbeth, June 2005)

Performing at Opera Holland Park